Fang-tastic fun. (X-Men Origins: Wolverine (DVD))

Member Name: FairyG

Product:	X-Men Origins: Wolverine (DVD)
Date:	05/05/09 (135 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great opening and a good story setting up the X-men origins

Disadvantages: Some dodgy make-up effects

This is a must-see film for all fans of X-Men, but especially for fans of Hugh Jackman in all his primal hairy glory as the untamable Wolverine. This is a prequel to the previous three films, and recounts the story of how Logan/Wolverine came to be what he is.

It begins with a brief scene from his childhood, where he discovers he has a half-brother. We are then shown a montage of flashbacks showing his growing relationship with his brother Victor/Sabretooth (Liev Shreiber) over the years, and then the later corrosion of the bond between them as they mature into vastly different characters with different moral values. There's no dialogue here, but there is enough in the action to show the different kind of men they are becoming. It's a great opening to the film that plunges the viewer straight into the action knowing exactly what's going on.

The brothers eventually become part of a mercenary force led by William Stryker (Danny Huston) made up of mutants with various talents such as generating electrical power, wielding swords as super speeds, and teleporting. He is in search of a strange metal (no prizes for guessing what that is!) and will stop at nothing to get it. But Victor starts enjoying it all far too much, killing for the pure thrill of it.

The differences between the two brothers seem irreconcilable and Logan goes his own way, starting a new life for himself. However Stryker needs Logan as part of his sinister Weapon X program, and eventually he catches up with him.

As usual in the X-Men series there is an evil mastermind, this time William Stryker, who must be prevented from carrying out his fiendish plans by the combined forces of the mutants. Although it's a series I've enjoyed watching, there's always the problem of just too many major characters and no-one gets enough screen time. But for a change this one focuses almost exclusively on one mutant, Logan. Although Victor plays a big part in this, and other mutants appear at various times, the story focuses on Logan throughout, giving it a coherence the previous films lack. It makes it a much stronger film, and the pace barely lets up. It manages to be entertaining and full of action, while at the same time giving some necessary time for character development.

Hugh Jackman has really perfected the role that made him a star, this time taking the trouble to build some serious muscle for the frequent action scenes. He really looks good in this, and is totally absorbed in the character of a man who is barely in control, but somehow manages to have a conscience that holds him back at times. He's ninety percent good guy, ten percent pure wild animal. Need I say he's also incredibly sexy? Okay, I didn't need to say but I'm leaving it in anyway!

Liev Shreiber is also totally immersed in the role of Victor, and actually seems to relish it. He is well cast in this as the wilder brother, who is ninety percent bad and ten percent good. There's something about him that really works in these semi bad-guy roles. Remember him as the seductive diplomat in The Painted Veil? The more violent brother in Defiance? The murder suspect in Scream? I have a feeling he gets cast sometimes just to keep you guessing whether he's good or bad because he's played such a range of untrustworthy characters you, just can't always tell.

The relationship between Jackman and Schreiber is excellent. They work well together, creating the impression of a strong brotherly bond between them in spite of the many bone-crunching, snarling fights they get into.

Danny Huston is suitably evil as the ruthless scientist Stryker. Remember him as the vampire leader in 30 Days of Night? He's got just the kind of sinister face for this kind of role, with enough charm to make you think he might be trustworthy, but not quite.

In my view, this is the best of the series yet, mainly because it's got a more coherent plot than the three previous X-Men films and doesn't try to focus on too many characters. The special effects are great, especially one memorable scene where Logan takes on a helicopter.

There's just one scene which I think lets the film down and that's where he is fighting an incredibly fat mutant, who is clearly wearing a fat suit. This was just so unrealistic I found myself looking for the joins, although I admit I didn't see any. It was very well done in that respect, but the main problem is that he didn't really move around like a real person and his jaw and neck hardly moved at all. I think it was supposed to be a light-hearted bit in a fairly intense film, but it wasn't really that funny.

There's also another make-up disaster where a character appears from the other films (I'm not telling which one), who is clearly made up to look much younger, as this is set several years earlier. The effect is somewhat plastic and unconvincing.

Other than those minor faults, this film is an excellent prequel, and well worth watching if you're a fan of the X-Men. I can't quite give it five stars, because of some of those over the top make-up scenes, but other than that, it's well worth watching.

Director: Gavin Hood (Rendition)
Running time: 107 minutes
Certificate: 12A

Summary: The best X-Men film yet.